Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-30
III SHOOTS FIVE MILES,
The New TWeivc-fnch Mortar a Means
OF sea.COaSt Defence.

A Washington special says The
trials thus far made at Sandy Hook with
the new twelve-inch breach-loading NOR
tar have been satisfactory, and indi-
cate It's superiority over the muzzle-
loader Of the same calibre in range and
accuracy, as well as in other desirable
qualities. At an elevation OF 10 degrees
the shell, weighing 26j pounds, was pro-
PEELED, by a charge of % pounds, dis
lance of more than five miles, the initial
velocity being 1,037 feet and the pres
sure 2,7G0 pounds.
The high importance attached to these
heavy mortars for coast defence is indi-
Gated in the annual report OF General
Duane, chief of engineers, who points
ont that all the preparations which form
a part can be carried on at once, leaving
the disputed question OF the kind
of armor required for land defenccs
iof leisurely consideration. Nine
| tcnths of the armament recommended
for our sea coasts is not TO be mounted
behind iron projections, but III the rear
of carthen covers, surrounding and
shielding the masonry, magazines,
bomb proofs, and store-rooms. Particu-
larry is this true OF the riiled mortars,
which must hereafter play an important
/ part in tine defence of our channels and
coasts, and there is no reason why the
erection of the batteries required for
them should be delayed for single
month.
The reliance upon the Pinch mortars
is also indicated by the report of the
Fertilization Board. which proposed for
/ New York alone l44 OF them for San
I Francisco 12S for Boston, 1872 for the
( lake ports. q for Hampton Roads,
Baltimore, and Philadelphia. lG each ;
for Portland and Narragansett bay, IS
each for Key West and Portland, Ore
gon, 81 each; fer Charleston, Mobile,
/ Savannah, Galveston, and New Bedford,
16 each +; for New Haven, &
Here is total of ia OF the Pinch
mortars TO be provided, with their en-
/ placements. There would accordingly
be plenty of work for years to come in
/ furnishing these batteries alone, without
regard to the heavy guns needed. The
cost OF the mortar emplacements is
shown by the estimates of $1,000 made
[ for those required at Pea Patch island,
| Philadelphia. A board of engineers
which estimated the cost OF the
Pinch mortars and cmplacements
for New York, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, and Baltimore, about three
years ago, found il to be Sl7,OGG for
, each mortar of emplacement, making an
aggregate of 1902, 900 for the four
ports. This estimate gave the NarroWs
96 mortars and the East river defences
As, with 10 each for Philadelphia and
Baltimore, as in the calculations Of
the Fortitlcations Board, but assigned
only 100 TO Boston instead Of 1872. In
round numbers the full mortar protec-
ton Of these four ports would cost about
S5,000,0 00, while the entire mortar
battery defences for the Atlantic, the
Pacific, the Gulf, and the lake ports
would be over $40, 100000.
Thus it will be seen how great part
of the total expenditures contemplated
is taken up with this mode of defence
alone. 1t is further to be noted that in
each case the mortar suggested is of the
l2-inch calibre-or, in other words, the
one now under test at Sandy Hook
Hence these current TRIALS possess great
degree ofimportance, and it is further evil
dentthat in orderto carry out this portion
OF the proposed plan OF the ses-const de-
fence Congress would have little more to